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The Collection

Gowns by Laura Meyer
Photography by Shelly Wittstock Orlandini
The Madeleine Gown
NFS
 

This dress, made using the same base pattern as the Promenade, was inspired in design by the red candycane striped "seaside dress" worn by  Helena Bonham Carter in "Sleepy Hollow", though the difference in color palettes quickly took it in a different direction. The blue and white seersucker fabric evokes the essence of summer, and lavender silk accents impart a richness to the overall feel of the dress.

The bodice is lightly lined and interlined, edged with handmade silk bias tape, with hook and eye closures down the center panel and decorative art nouveau style buttons. The tailored back ends in a large bow and layers of ruffles above a gathered lavender panel. The elbow length sleeves feature a ruffle, bow and lavender edging.

The skirt has six gores and is gathered at the back.  The main feature is a wide bias cut ruffle, edged with lavender bias tape and the peaks topped with silk bows.

 

The hat began life as a dark blue straw gardening hat and, once lined in white lace, was further adorned with layers of silk and seersucker ending with a dramatic pleated asymmetrical tail, and topped with handmade lavender silk roses and a vintage brooch handpainted with a floral motif.

Made for use with a petticoat and bustle.

Model: Laura Meyer

The Rose Tea Dress
$300 USD
 

Inspired by two different costumes worn by Kate Winslet in the film "Titanic", this Edwardian summer dress is a breath of fresh air, featuring layers of chiffon and lace in a classic early-century silhouette.

The love-child of a chiffon dress from the 1970's and a cotton lace wedding dress, the Rose Tea Dress is primarily in pastels, with a wide band of contrasting satin for the waistband and wide hair sash. For a personal touch, the centerpiece of the waistband is a Victorian style cameo, featuring a skeleton (simply sewn on, should a replacement be desired).

The lace of the bodice is handsewn, narrowng into a flattering "V" at the waist in front and back. Thanks to the waist sash, this dress is appropriate for multiple sizes, fitting a corseted size 12 (waist 28"-32") to a size 8. (Shown on a size 6 model)  The sleeves are sheer lace, handsewn into gentle gathers.

Model: Melissa Simonis

The Katrina Gown
NFS

The Katrina Gown is designed to look as much as possible like the striped gown worn by Christina Ricci in the last scene of the film "Sleepy Hollow".

After examining movie stills and finding a dense cotton in striped of the right width, (before the "Pirates of the Carribean" series, it was difficult to find "pirate" stripes) I developed a pattern for the bodice and skirt to achieve the correct look.

The skirt is gathered at the waist but flat down the front. Two layers of ruffles accent the hem.

The steel-boned strapless corset matches up with the stripes in front, and laces up the back. The jacket has an attached bustle and long sleeves, and closes at the bust with a heavy duty hook & eye. Two more closures at the waist secure the jacket to the corset. The trim features a black and white pleat edged with black lace on one side and sheer white ruffled trim on the other.  This dress, though the fabric is very sturdy, similar to denim, is not for sale due to its condition as a *very* used item, being worn for many Halloweens, events, conventions, fashion shows and costume contests. Made to be worn with a petticoat for added fullness.

Model: Rebecca Brummer 

The Wharton Suit
SOLD
 

The Wharton suit is inpired by the costume worn by Jillian Anderson in the opening scene of the film "The House of Mirth", based on the novel by Edith Wharton.

The suit consists of four pieces; the hat, the lace jabot, the velvet jacket and the striped skirt. The jabot was purchased from the Victorian Trading Company, but I found it to be too flimsy to be worn without adding a stabilizing base.  I further usually pin it to whatever blouse/camisole or corset I wear beneath the jacket. The brooch at the throat is a Delizza and Elster (AKA: Juliana) Rose cameo featuring a center hematite oval surrounded by black rhinestones.

The jacket was adapted from an existing velvet one, with added trim, new buttons at the closure and for accents, and a reshaped hem.  I also reinforced the interior with boning at the seams and added a centerpiece of ruffled lace at the base of the back, topped by a vintage black rhinestone accent piece.

The skirt was custom draped and features layers of striped ruffles in graduating lengths down the back. deep darts at the back allow for a moderate bustle, but if a petticoat is to be worn it should be a flat-front or slim design due to the "natural form" silhouette of the skirt.

The hat is also custom, hand made and covered in black matte satin with trimmings in the black and striped fabrics. A vintage pair of millinery wings serve as the centerpiece of the hat, along with a fantastic black rhinestoen button. A black swiss dot netted veil can be worn up or down over the face.

Model: Heather Dawson

The Eveline Suit
NFS

This suit was created from two bridesmaid dresses of the same fabric, and consists of the corset, shirt, tie, jacket and skirt.  Together they create a classic Edwardian suit in a dramatic color combination.

The corset shown is an altered (for human busts) corset purchased from Corset-Story.  The jacket is an Edwardian bolero style, with long puffed sleeves. The jacket front and cuff edges are trimmed with textured black piping, and accented with vintage black and red buttons.

The skirt is a simple a-line in red satin, with a mass of red chiffon bustled up at the back and topped by a black chiffon bow.

A coordinating black striped sheer button-up blouse with red satin-covered buttons and a black satin tie complete the ensemble.

No petticoat or additional bustling is necessary for this iconic silhouette.

Added details in the picture include black gloves and an antique velvet hat.

Model: Melissa Simonis

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